Map showing general terrain
features. Note the flooded stream immediately to the east of
Grossbeeren. Also note the woods just south of Ruhlsdorf and
Neubeeren. The battle was fought mainly in the town of
Grossbeeren itself and in the area bounded by Ruhlsdorf,
Grossbeeren and Neubeeren. Note also the windmill to the west of
Grossbeeren.

Background Information: Grossbeeren
is just 17km south of Berlin. The N-S road running through
Grossbeeren runs right into the heart of Berlin. The French
objective was Berlin. The Prussians were therefore fighting to
save their capital. The actual battle began at 5pm and lasted til
around 10pm.

On hearing fighting, Marshal
Oudinot, whose XII Corps was at Ahrensdorf (about 6 km SW of
Grossbeeren), sent Fournier's Light Cavalry Division and the 14th
Division (Guilleminot) to Grossbeeren to support Reynier's VII
Corps. Fournier's Division arrived at 8pm and the 14th arrived
half an hour later. Both were too late to make a difference.

Scenario Objective:
The French begin the game in control of Grossbeeren town and
should deploy in the manner shown in the map above. The French
objective is to defend their positions for 5 hours (15 turns
using Republique rules). On turn 9, Fournier's Division arrives
on the SW board edge. On turn 11, the 14th Division arrives on
the SW board edge. The Prussians must take Grossbeeren (tactical
victory) and / or force the French to retreat (strategic
victory). The French win by preventing the Prussians from
achieving their objectives.

Note - the
details given below are for use with Republique Grand Tactical
rules. Free download from War Times Journal. To convert
the order of battle for use with other rules, please note that
each infantry and cavalry base equals around 550 men. Each
Artillery base represents 2 batteries of roughly 4-6 guns each.

To enhance playability, players
have the discretion to merge small infantry units (units
consisting 1 or 2 bases) with larger units in the same
division/brigade. If light infantry units are merged with line
units, increase the number of skirmishers that unit may deploy by
the number of light bases added. Players may also merge small
cavalry units into larger ones. In accordance with the rules,
players may detach cavalry and/or artillery to form reserve
cavalry/artillery divisions/brigades.

Prussian Forces

Prussian III Armeekorps
- Generalleutnant von Bülow

3rd Brigade (GM Prinz von
Hessen-Homburg)

Number
of Bases

2nd East Prussian Grenadier Bn

2

3rd East Prussian Inf Regt

5

4th Reserve Inf Regt

5

1st Leib Hussars

1

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

4th
Brigade (GM von Thümen)

Number
of Bases

4th East Prussian Inf Regt

5

5th Reserve Inf Regt

5

Elbe Inf Regt

4

East Prussian Jäger Bn

1

Pomeranian National Cav Regt

1

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

5th Brigade (GM von Borstell)

Number
of Bases

Pomeranian Grenadier Bn

2

Pomeranian Inf Regt

5

2nd Reserve Inf Regt

5

2nd Kurmark Landwehr Inf Regt

5

Pommeranian Hussars

1

West Prussian Uhlans

1

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

6th Brigade (Col von Krafft)

Number
of Bases

Colberg Inf Regt

5

9th Reserve Inf Regt

5

1st Newmark Landwehr Inf Regt

5

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

Reserve Cavalry (GM von Oppen)

Number
of Bases

Combined Dragoon Brigade (Brandenburg,
Königin & 2nd West Prussian)

4

2nd Silesian Hussars

1

Combined Landwehr Cav Brigade (2nd
Pomeranian, 2nd & 4th Kurmark)

3

Horse Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

Reserve Artillery (Lt Col von
Holzendorff)

Number
of Bases

Foot Artillery Battery (12lb)

1

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

Russian Foot Artillery (12lb)

1

French Forces

VII Corps - General Count Reynier

24th Division (Saxons under GL Lecoq)

Number
of Bases

Leib Grenadier Garde + Gren bn von
Spiegel

3

Prinz Maximillian Inf Regt

4

Light Inf Regt von Lecoq

2

Prinz Frederick August Inf Regt

4

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

25th Division (Saxons under GL von Sahr)

Number
of Bases

Grenadier Bn von Anton

2

Combined Inf Regt (König, von
Niesemeuschel)

4

Combined Inf Regt (Prinz Anton, von Low)

4

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

32nd Division (French under GdD Durutte)

Number
of Bases

35e + 36e Légére

2

131e Ligne

3

132e Ligne

3

133e Ligne

3

Würzburg Inf Regt

2

Foot Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

26th Light Cavalry Brigade (Saxons under
GM von Gablenz)

Number
of Bases

Hussar Regt

3

Uhlan Regt

2

Horse Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

French Reinforcements -
Arrive on the beginning of turn 9 on SW board edge.

Fournier's Light Cavalry Division

Number
of Bases

Hussar Brigade

3

Chasseur à Cheval Regt

2

Horse Artillery Battery (6lb)

1

French Reinforcements -
Arrive on the beginning of turn 11 on SW board edge.

14th Division (GdB Guilleminot)

Number
of Bases

18e Légére

3

52e Ligne

4

137e Ligne

4

156e Ligne

4

Illyrian Jägers

3

------------------------

Historical Notes:

The offensive move by Oudinot's
Army of Berlin against Berlin was a side show during the Autumn
campaign of 1813. The main armies of both the French and the
Allies were converging around Dresden.

Although the Berlin offensive was
a peripheral action, the potential rewards were great. A French
capture of Berlin would cut off the Swedish army in the north and
induce Sweden to give up the fight. Control of the area around
Berlin would deny the Prussians vital resources and recruiting
grounds. Furthermore, the moral effect of Berlin's loss on the
Prussian army should not be underestimated.

Oudinot's Army was concentrated
around Baruth, 3 marches from Berlin. His army advanced along 3
axes - XII Corps on the left, via Ahrensdorf, VII Corps in the
centre, via Grossbeeren, and IV Corps on the right, via
Blankenfelde. (Click
here for campaign map) Against this
onslaught, allied outposts at Trebbin and Munsdorf were forced to
retreat. The terrain in this area was cut up by streams, gullies,
marshes and woods. As the French were advancing on separate axes,
it would not be easy for them to support each other.

At 3pm on 23 August, Reynier's VII
Corps captured Grossbeeren and proceeded to bivouac for the day.
Reynier's right was secured by the town of Grossbeeren and a
stream gully running N-S just east of the town. On the left,
which was in open ground, Reynier ordered Lecoq to form a large
divisional square protected by a few guns.

The Prussian troops greeted the
order to attack with three "hurrahs". The battle opened
with an artillery duel at 5pm. The Prussian infantry, standing
300m behind the guns, suffered casualties from the French counter
battery fire.

Borstell's Brigade proceeded to
attack Grossbeeren from the east. Meanwhile, at around 6pm,
Bülow ordered a general assault with fixed bayonets. Krafft's
Brigade was ordered to attack Grossbeeren from the north, while
Hessen-Homburg attacked the Saxons around the windmill height (in
the fields west of Grossbeeren). Exhorting the Colberg Regiment,
Bülow is reported to have said "The Russians and Swedes are
watching. Berlin is behind you. Don't forget that you are
Pomeranians!"

This concentrated attack by 3
Prussian brigades was too much for Sahr's Saxon Division to
stand. Falling back in disorder, the retreating Saxons took
Durutte's Division (sent by Reynier to reinforce the Saxons),
with them. Both Sahr's and Durutte's Divisions took refuge in the
woods south of Grossbeeren. An attempt by Lecoq to take the
windmill height failed. With 2 divisions in flight, Reynier had
no choice but to order a retreat.

Meanwhile, at 8pm, Fournier's
Light Cavalry Division appeared on the scene. Half an hour later,
Guilleminot's 14th Division arrived. Both had been sent by
Oudinot from Ahrensdorf to reinforce Reynier. However, it was too
late. The battle had already been lost. Oudinot withdrew his
forces and Berlin was saved.

Grossbeeren today.
Prussian artillery in action outside Grossbeeren during the 1999
reenactment of the battle. The reenactors are just 200m north of
the gentle rise where the windmill used to stand.